Originally Posted by
BobOscar
Are BXP-1 upgrades next to useless? I had one waitlisted last week as no upgrades available when I made my booking a few months ago. There were quite a few FC seats available when I made the request. 2 days before departure there were still 2 FC seats showing as open.
They're definitely not useless however IME they can be a bit wonky with regards to waitlisting and clearing, sometimes they don't show up correctly or don't clear when space opens up, etc. I pretty much never waitlist for BXP1's but rather only use them when I can confirm the upgrade at booking.
Originally Posted by
BobOscar
My understanding of the BXP-1 is that they come before all of the complementary upgrades. And that it should have cleared way before complementary upgrades were opened up.
At the gate, I was 6th in line for an upgrade. I expect that was based on where I would have been as a Platinum for a complementary upgrade. The gate agent didn't seem to have a clue about the BXP-1. She said they were totally based on status, which I don't believe is true (meaning that an EXP getting a complementary upgrade would trump my BXP-1 as a Platinum)
But here your understanding is not correct. BXP1's require C space to clear (same as SWU or miles/copay upgrades) while complementary upgrades require R space. For flights with wide open business availability AA will typically release C space before R space (meaning the BXP1 would clear first) but there's definitely no hard and fast rule that a BXP1 will always come before a comp upgrade.
But it sounds like based on your position on the waitlist at the gate that the BXP1 wasn't waitlisted correctly (see above re: wonkyness).
Originally Posted by
BobOscar
If I ever try to use that BXP-1 that I still have, should I call before 100 hours out if there are still FC seats left and ask why I have not cleared? If so, would I want to call reservations or the Business Extra line? Or not even bother if it cannot be confirmed when I make my reservation?
Calling won't accomplish anything other than double checking that you are waitlisted correctly. But an agent won't be able to tell you anything else other than just "space isn't available yet".
BE upgrades are another area where ExpertFlyer really pays off, only apply the upgrades when space is available at booking, or set up alerts on a flight you're waitlisted on so that if C space opens up you can call Meeting Services and apply the BXP1 right away.